2. Apples to Oysters Overview Stayed with Ian Smith, an independent pig farmer from Argyle, MB. Provider of pork to Lieutenant-Governor General for Manitoba, John Harvard (ret.). Among first farmers to be certified by WHS (Winnipeg Humane Society) for his practices in raising and handling pigs. Self-promoter and sells pigs directly to customers. Follows “the old ways” of farming. www.naturalpork.ca
3. Overview, Cont’d In 1996, Manitoba started offering grants, tax cuts and incentives – including free land – to big industry to draw them to the area. Large-scale pig farming is done with little regard to comfort to animals or sanitation. Creates lower “quality” of meat. Focus on the comfort of the animals was always secondary to poundage. All things seen as dollars and cents.
4. “Statistics hog-tie pig farming to H1N1 cases” Straight.com; by Alex Rosin H1N1 started off as Swine Flu. Pig industry up in arms and virus renamed. Unsanitary protocols of pig industry causes pig dung to be washed into nearby rivers and streams, as well as saturating soil and creating harmful gases. Prolonged exposure to these gases can cause asthma and respiratory problems, putting people at greater risk of developing many illnesses.
5. Overview Cont’d 93% correlation between ratio of pigs : people to rate of hospitalization involving H1N1. Higher the concentration of pigs, the greater chance of being hospitalized due to H1N1. Manitoba suffers from triple the national average of deaths and hospitalizations due to H1N1. Also has the largest ratio of pigs : people at 2.4 : 1. 95% correlation between the presence of large-scale pig farming and the development of the illness community-wide.
6. Conclusion With fewer than 10% of family-run pig farms operating in Manitoba, big industry has become the Alpha. The unsanitary practices of the factories are causing problems not only in the quality of product, but in the environment. Reverting to “the old ways” would work to eliminate much of big industry and reverse the impact of these environmental issues.
